Farm Equipment and Tractor Accidents

Injured in an accident involving farm equipment in Texas? Call (214) 651-6100 and let us review the facts of your case for free.

The equipment present on farms and within the agricultural industry is known to cause a number of accidents involving serious injuries and even death. In fact, farm workers are 800% more likely to die on the job when compared to other industry workers. Your injuries could be due to a freak accident, but they may very well be as the result of defective equipment.
When these accidents occur, it is important to seek the advice of a competent personal injury lawyer in your state. If our Texas lawyers are able to determine that someone else is liable for a portion of the accident, we will help you file a claim or lawsuit in order to recover the compensation that your family need during this trying time.

Farm equipment accident statistics.

Unfortunately, farm equipment is not always designed with safety in mind, and this can make farm tractors and other large machinery especially dangerous to farmers. According to the National Safety Council, the leading cause of serious injuries and wrongful deaths among farm workers is tractor accidents. A few of the most alarming statistics on these accidents are as follows:

• The deaths of 2,165 farm workers between 1992 and 2001 were caused by farm tractor accidents.
• The U.S. Department of labor reported that rollovers are the most common tractor accidents, making up 44% of all farm accidents. On average, tractor rollovers kill 110 farmers annually in the U.S.
• According to the National Agricultural Tractor Safety Initiative, tractors are responsible for approximately 130 deaths each year—this translates to half of all fatalities among farm workers.

Poor quality design and manufacturing.

Unfortunately, manufacturers of tractors and other farm equipment often fail to keep safety in mind when they design heavy machinery. Even worse, they quite often neglect to warn others of the operational dangers once discovered. While newer tractor models must have rollover protection systems (ROPS), older models do not - and as a result they often tip over. In fact, approximately half of all tractors currently in operation do not have ROPS or seat belts. What this means is tractor accidents are seldom the fault of the operator. The reason that a large number of tractor accidents occur is because the manufacturers’ designs are inherently unsafe and lack proper warnings about the many ways those machines can injure them.

Most common types of tractor injuries.

While tractor rollover accidents cause the most number of farm deaths, there are many other accident scenarios related to a tractor's unsafe or defective design. Those injuries and the surrounding statistics include:

• Run over accidents cause approximately 60 fatalities each year.
• Collisions with motor vehicles are responsible for approximately 50 tractor operator fatalities every year.
• Approximately 10 farm workers die every year after becoming entangled in moving machinery.
• Some accidents are caused by driving during inclement weather or on very uneven land.

Defective designs are a huge issue with agricultural and farm equipment. This includes equipment such as plows, harvesters, tractors, backhoes, and bailers. When these machines cause injuries because of defective manufacturing, those injured as a result are entitled to seek compensation for those injuries and related losses. These types of accidents fall into what's referred to as product liability law.
In the event that the employer removed safety devices or inadequately trained employees on the equipment, a worker who is injured may have a valid work injury claim against their employer.
The bottom line is that if you or a loved one has been injured while operating any type of farm or agricultural equipment in Texas, call us and let us explain what options are available to you. The call is free, and there is no obligation to hire us. You are entitled to compensation for your injuries, and we'd like to help you seek the justice you deserve. Call our office at (214) 651-6100 for your free consultation today.